WEBVTT - Hour 1: Seek Biblical Clarity 0:00:08.990 --> 0:00:13.100 Hello friends. Welcome to Open Line with doctor Michael Ray Dolnick. 0:00:13.100 --> 0:00:15.950 My name is Michael Ray Dolnick. I'm the academic dean 0:00:15.950 --> 0:00:20.870 and professor of Jewish studies and Bible at Moody Bible Institute. 0:00:20.900 --> 0:00:25.820 It's time for our Bible study across America. We're here together, 0:00:25.820 --> 0:00:29.660 sitting around the radio kitchen table, and we want to 0:00:29.660 --> 0:00:33.979 talk about the Bible, God, and the spiritual life. If 0:00:33.979 --> 0:00:36.710 you have a question about what the scriptures mean, if 0:00:36.710 --> 0:00:39.740 you have a question about the Lord, if you have 0:00:39.740 --> 0:00:42.440 a question, and I'll do my best to answer that, 0:00:42.440 --> 0:00:45.500 like I'm not his spokesman, but but I'll do my 0:00:45.500 --> 0:00:48.500 best to explain what scriptures say about God and his 0:00:48.500 --> 0:00:53.180 character and his actions. And then also, if you have 0:00:53.180 --> 0:00:55.670 a question about your walk with the Lord, give me 0:00:55.670 --> 0:01:03.810 a call. The phone number here is And 5483675. Let 0:01:03.810 --> 0:01:06.060 me give that to you again. You might want to 0:01:06.060 --> 0:01:12.420 write it down. (877) 548-3675. People often wonder, how do I 0:01:12.420 --> 0:01:15.540 get through to open line? Best way to do that 0:01:15.569 --> 0:01:23.400 is to call early. (877) 548-3675. Tricia McMillan is in the 0:01:23.400 --> 0:01:27.960 producer's chair to hear is helping out. Omar Mendoza is 0:01:27.959 --> 0:01:32.160 our tech guy today, and tiara is answering the phones. Again, 0:01:32.160 --> 0:01:39.149 phone number (877) 548-3675. Time to go. Get yourself a cup 0:01:39.150 --> 0:01:42.330 of coffee and get your Bible out, because we're about 0:01:42.330 --> 0:01:45.059 to study the scriptures together. But I did want to say, 0:01:45.090 --> 0:01:48.570 first of all, I'm feeling a real sense of loss today. 0:01:48.570 --> 0:01:52.950 Someone I loved very dearly died this past week. In fact, 0:01:52.950 --> 0:01:58.470 just yesterday I learned that 1968 Moody alumna. Moody Bible 0:01:58.470 --> 0:02:03.240 Institute graduate Arleen Rigney went home to be with the Lord. 0:02:03.510 --> 0:02:06.750 Let me tell you just a bit about her ministry 0:02:06.750 --> 0:02:11.760 in my life. When I came to faith, my dad 0:02:11.760 --> 0:02:15.269 decided he couldn't have anything to do with me again. Uh, 0:02:15.270 --> 0:02:19.230 his the loss and pain that he experienced at the 0:02:19.230 --> 0:02:24.359 hands of the Nazis. Uh, and then also the idea 0:02:24.360 --> 0:02:28.620 that he thought the Nazis were all Christians. My coming 0:02:28.650 --> 0:02:31.170 to faith in Jesus just turned his heart away from 0:02:31.169 --> 0:02:33.570 me and didn't want anything to do with me. Of course, 0:02:33.570 --> 0:02:37.380 I was an adolescent and needed dad. And there was 0:02:37.380 --> 0:02:40.470 this guy, Dan Rigney, serving in Jewish ministry. A moody 0:02:40.470 --> 0:02:44.130 album from 1968. He had prayed for me to come 0:02:44.130 --> 0:02:47.490 to know the Lord. He had discipled. He. Then he 0:02:47.490 --> 0:02:50.280 immediately started to disciple me and teach me how to 0:02:50.310 --> 0:02:53.520 walk with the Lord. Uh, he became a surrogate dad 0:02:53.550 --> 0:02:57.399 to me. He became my replacement when I skipped French 0:02:57.400 --> 0:02:59.470 class in high school, he was the one that called 0:02:59.470 --> 0:03:03.430 me up and and and really gave it to me. Uh, 0:03:03.430 --> 0:03:08.919 that he took me out on trips, we went camping. 0:03:08.919 --> 0:03:12.370 We did all sorts of stuff that, uh, that was 0:03:12.370 --> 0:03:16.990 very special. But of course, he he's married, didn't have 0:03:16.990 --> 0:03:21.279 any kids, but he and his wife, Arlene loved me. 0:03:21.280 --> 0:03:25.840 And they they cared for me. Arlene loved me just 0:03:25.840 --> 0:03:30.130 like a mom. I spent countless hours at their home 0:03:30.130 --> 0:03:33.820 in Baltimore, taking down the Greyhound bus from Brooklyn, going 0:03:33.850 --> 0:03:37.330 to Baltimore and hanging on, hanging out with them, spending 0:03:37.330 --> 0:03:42.520 weekends there. They are the ones that really encouraged me 0:03:42.520 --> 0:03:45.490 to go to Moody Bible Institute. I was thinking about 0:03:45.490 --> 0:03:48.280 I'd go to school in the New York area, but no, no, 0:03:48.280 --> 0:03:50.740 you've got to go to Moody. You've got to major 0:03:50.740 --> 0:03:54.220 in Jewish studies. They cheered me on anything I ever 0:03:54.220 --> 0:03:58.490 did in ministry, they were celebrating. And for years and years. 0:03:58.490 --> 0:04:01.820 I just can't tell you all these years how close 0:04:01.820 --> 0:04:04.970 I have been with Dan and Arlene. Well, Dan went 0:04:04.970 --> 0:04:09.110 home to be with the Lord 14 years ago. And 0:04:09.110 --> 0:04:14.600 just yesterday, Arlene joined him in heaven. She was a 0:04:14.630 --> 0:04:19.219 long time worker in Jewish ministry. And not just me. 0:04:19.220 --> 0:04:24.170 She adopted many young Messianic Jewish teens she built into 0:04:24.170 --> 0:04:29.150 their lives. She led several of my friends who were 0:04:29.150 --> 0:04:31.100 teenagers who came to the Lord. She led their moms 0:04:31.100 --> 0:04:35.210 to the Lord. I just think, uh, she had a 0:04:35.210 --> 0:04:38.750 marvelous ministry for many, many years. I know that now 0:04:38.750 --> 0:04:42.920 that she is, uh, entered heaven, she. The first words 0:04:42.920 --> 0:04:47.089 she heard were well done, good and faithful servant. But 0:04:47.089 --> 0:04:49.880 here's the verse of Scripture that I often think of 0:04:50.420 --> 0:04:54.950 when I think of the rigney's. This is what Mark 0:04:54.950 --> 0:05:01.460 chapter ten, verses 29 through 31 say says, I assure you, 0:05:01.490 --> 0:05:04.850 Jesus said, there is no one who has left house, 0:05:04.850 --> 0:05:08.420 or brother or sisters, or mother or father or children 0:05:08.420 --> 0:05:12.740 or fields because of me. And the good news, who 0:05:12.770 --> 0:05:16.100 will not receive a hundred times more now at this 0:05:16.100 --> 0:05:22.010 time houses brothers, sisters, mothers and children, and fields with 0:05:22.010 --> 0:05:28.070 persecutions and eternal life in the age to come. But 0:05:28.760 --> 0:05:32.390 many who are first will be last and the last first. 0:05:32.420 --> 0:05:36.830 That's Mark 1029 through 31. Here's what struck me is 0:05:36.830 --> 0:05:41.390 the Lord just promised eternal life to anyone who turns 0:05:41.390 --> 0:05:43.970 their lives over to him, and I am grateful for that. 0:05:43.970 --> 0:05:57.510 But he also promised to provide not just materially, but also, uh, relationally. Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, 0:05:57.510 --> 0:06:03.000 those that we need in this life. And that's what 0:06:03.000 --> 0:06:05.430 he did for me. My dad wanted nothing. He wanted 0:06:05.430 --> 0:06:07.890 nothing to do with me in this life. But the 0:06:07.890 --> 0:06:12.089 Lord provided Dan. When my mom passed away, when I 0:06:12.089 --> 0:06:14.670 was still a young adult, the Lord had already given 0:06:14.670 --> 0:06:18.599 me Arlene. The Lord's promise proved true not just the 0:06:18.600 --> 0:06:22.049 promise of eternal life, but the promise of caring for 0:06:22.050 --> 0:06:25.620 me relationally in this life. The Lord gave a dad 0:06:25.620 --> 0:06:27.630 and a mom to me in this life, and I'm 0:06:27.630 --> 0:06:31.529 grateful to him for the lives of Dan and Arlene Rigney. 0:06:31.529 --> 0:06:34.440 And I'm sure so are many other young people to 0:06:34.470 --> 0:06:50.250 whom they ministered. Well, we're going to go to the 0:06:50.250 --> 0:06:53.020 phones in just a moment. I did want to mention 0:06:53.020 --> 0:06:56.890 our current resource here at Openline. You know, a lot 0:06:56.920 --> 0:07:02.830 of people wonder about Paul's letters to Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 0:07:02.830 --> 0:07:07.780 and Colossians. There they're filled with timeless wisdom for the church. 0:07:07.779 --> 0:07:12.010 But sometimes we need a little help unpacking their deep truths. 0:07:12.010 --> 0:07:15.460 And that's where the Moody Bible Commentary excerpt comes in. 0:07:15.490 --> 0:07:19.060 This is a trusted resource, the Moody Bible Commentary that 0:07:19.060 --> 0:07:22.570 I had the great privilege of working on. Uh, there's 0:07:22.570 --> 0:07:26.020 some terrific writers from the Moody Bible Institute faculty that 0:07:26.020 --> 0:07:31.270 wrote in it, and this offers this little excerpt that's 0:07:31.270 --> 0:07:36.400 being offered now offers clear explanations of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 0:07:36.400 --> 0:07:41.740 and Colossians. Whether you're preparing a lesson for a Sunday 0:07:41.740 --> 0:07:45.160 school class or a home group discussion, or just want 0:07:45.190 --> 0:07:47.920 some deeper understanding for your own time in the word, 0:07:47.920 --> 0:07:52.060 this little excerpt from the Moody Bible Commentary will enrich 0:07:52.060 --> 0:07:55.240 your study of these books and God's Word. When you 0:07:55.270 --> 0:07:57.940 give a gift of any size, we want to say 0:07:57.940 --> 0:08:02.260 thank you by sending you Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. 0:08:02.260 --> 0:08:16.780 Excerpt from the Moody Bible Commentary. Call 8886447122688886447122 or or. 0:08:16.780 --> 0:08:22.300 Visit openline radio.org for your opportunity to give a gift 0:08:22.300 --> 0:08:24.400 so we can say thank you and send you this 0:08:24.400 --> 0:08:29.440 great resource. Uh, we're going to talk with Roger in Youngstown, 0:08:29.440 --> 0:08:33.820 Ohio right now listening on Wkjf. Welcome to Open Line. Roger. 0:08:33.820 --> 0:08:35.650 How can I help you God. 0:08:35.920 --> 0:08:39.850 God bless you, doctor. And I'm so sorry for your loss. 0:08:39.850 --> 0:08:43.630 I really am, and I hope the Lord comforts you 0:08:43.630 --> 0:08:45.219 in this time of your loss. 0:08:45.730 --> 0:08:48.070 Thank you. You know, I do want to say this. 0:08:48.070 --> 0:08:50.780 We don't grieve as those who have no hope. I 0:08:50.809 --> 0:08:55.430 am confident to see Dan and Arlene, uh, again. And, 0:08:55.460 --> 0:08:58.130 you know, she she was at an age that I 0:08:58.130 --> 0:09:00.650 think she would rather have the rapture happen, but she's 0:09:00.650 --> 0:09:04.310 she's happy, I think, now to be with the Lord. So. 0:09:04.309 --> 0:09:06.920 But thank you for your kind words. Appreciate it. 0:09:07.190 --> 0:09:08.630 You're very welcome, sir. 0:09:08.750 --> 0:09:09.740 Go ahead. 0:09:09.770 --> 0:09:14.000 My my question comes from Mark chapter four, verse nine. 0:09:14.000 --> 0:09:17.330 Now I think I know the answer, but I want 0:09:17.360 --> 0:09:19.850 to know what you think. Uh, I have to set 0:09:19.850 --> 0:09:23.960 this up the right way. In verse 38, the disciples 0:09:23.960 --> 0:09:27.620 come to Jesus and they awake him and said to him, teacher, 0:09:27.650 --> 0:09:31.040 do you not care that we are perishing? Then in 0:09:31.040 --> 0:09:35.390 verse 39, the target verse, sir. Then he arose and 0:09:35.390 --> 0:09:40.760 rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, peace, be still. 0:09:40.790 --> 0:09:45.229 Here's my question. Why is the piece from the new 0:09:45.230 --> 0:09:48.740 King James Version as well as the new American Standard 0:09:48.740 --> 0:09:51.020 version capitalized. 0:09:51.740 --> 0:09:55.100 Because it's a new sentence. That's how you do a quotation. 0:09:55.100 --> 0:09:58.910 You have the the sentence that the speaker is saying, 0:09:58.910 --> 0:10:02.929 this is just English grammar. Uh, he said to the wind, 0:10:02.929 --> 0:10:05.030 and then you have a comma and then you have 0:10:05.030 --> 0:10:09.380 the quotation. The actual words are peace or silence. Yeah. 0:10:09.650 --> 0:10:13.250 And then exclamation point and then a new sentence, be 0:10:13.250 --> 0:10:18.260 still so that the, the word be has a capital B. 0:10:18.260 --> 0:10:23.330 And then there's the either a period or exclamation point 0:10:23.330 --> 0:10:28.400 and the, the, the close quotation. That's all. It's just 0:10:28.400 --> 0:10:29.420 English grammar. 0:10:30.590 --> 0:10:35.479 Okay, okay. Because someone told me that and that's what 0:10:35.480 --> 0:10:38.240 I thought. It kind of I thought it was someone. 0:10:38.270 --> 0:10:41.810 I heard someone mention that it was Jesus spoke to 0:10:41.840 --> 0:10:45.350 the wind as though it was a person. And that's why. 0:10:45.350 --> 0:10:48.329 And I struggled with that. I really struggled with that. 0:10:48.630 --> 0:10:51.300 But I think your friend, your friend who told that 0:10:51.450 --> 0:10:57.090 made a mistake. It's just English grammar. Okay. Okay. You 0:10:57.090 --> 0:10:59.100 know what? I think we should read the Bible. Let 0:10:59.100 --> 0:11:01.440 me just say this, Roger. We should read the Bible 0:11:01.440 --> 0:11:06.810 very carefully. Observe the details. But sometimes we can go overboard, 0:11:07.200 --> 0:11:10.949 you know? And so make sure when we when we 0:11:10.950 --> 0:11:13.559 read it, to read it for what it really means 0:11:13.559 --> 0:11:17.580 and not with, with trying to create things like that. So. 0:11:17.580 --> 0:11:20.100 But you were right, Roger. Your friend was reading too 0:11:20.100 --> 0:11:21.179 much into it. 0:11:21.990 --> 0:11:24.270 That's what I thought. God bless you, sir, and have 0:11:24.270 --> 0:11:27.030 a great day and thank you for your response. Great. 0:11:27.030 --> 0:11:29.309 Thanks for your call, Roger. Appreciate it. We're going to 0:11:29.309 --> 0:11:31.559 take a break here. And when we come back, we're 0:11:31.559 --> 0:11:33.480 going to there's a whole bunch of calls coming in now, 0:11:33.480 --> 0:11:35.400 but there's still a couple of spots open. You might 0:11:35.400 --> 0:11:41.969 want to try it. (877) 548-3675. We'll answer your question in 0:11:41.970 --> 0:11:45.430 just a moment. Uh, This is the time to call 0:11:45.460 --> 0:11:47.260 to get all these calls in, and we'll try and 0:11:47.260 --> 0:11:49.900 do as many, take as many as we can, and 0:11:49.900 --> 0:11:52.420 answer as many questions as we can. My name is 0:11:52.420 --> 0:11:55.059 Michael Ray Dolnick. This is open line. Stay with us. 0:11:55.059 --> 0:11:59.290 We'll be right back with more Bible study across America. 0:12:08.410 --> 0:12:11.920 And we're back. I'm Michael Ray Dolnick. This is open 0:12:11.920 --> 0:12:15.850 line on Moody Radio. We're taking your questions about the Bible, God, 0:12:15.850 --> 0:12:18.790 and the spiritual life. I do want to mention that 0:12:18.790 --> 0:12:22.000 last Saturday, of course, we had a pre-recorded program. It 0:12:22.000 --> 0:12:26.770 was mostly about anti-Semitism. I want to thank my guest, uh, 0:12:26.770 --> 0:12:33.309 doctor Don Sweeting, chancellor of Colorado Christian University, and also 0:12:33.429 --> 0:12:37.780 the numerous people that were here for the summit that 0:12:37.780 --> 0:12:40.660 joined me last week as well. Last week we had 0:12:40.660 --> 0:12:43.630 the summit opposing anti-Semitism. It turned out to be a 0:12:43.630 --> 0:12:48.790 phenomenal event. I'm grateful to. Chosen People Ministries for partnering 0:12:48.790 --> 0:12:52.660 with Moody Bible Institute, and especially for all the people 0:12:52.660 --> 0:12:55.120 that came and joined us right here on the campus 0:12:55.120 --> 0:12:58.330 of Moody. It was a terrific time. There was also 0:12:58.360 --> 0:13:02.080 a special event that happened within the special event. That 0:13:02.080 --> 0:13:07.060 was the founding of of a Coalition Against anti-Semitism. I 0:13:07.059 --> 0:13:10.030 had the great privilege of being the first signatory of 0:13:10.059 --> 0:13:14.199 that group, the Coalition Against anti-Semitism. If you'd like to 0:13:14.200 --> 0:13:19.990 know more about the coalition, you can go to oppose anti-Semitism. 0:13:19.990 --> 0:13:24.280 That's just as one word. No space to oppose anti-Semitism 0:13:24.280 --> 0:13:27.370 dot com. And you'll see there about the resources that 0:13:27.370 --> 0:13:34.719 the Coalition Against anti-Semitism will provide. Now, uh, the thing 0:13:34.720 --> 0:13:37.780 that struck me most when I was there last week 0:13:37.780 --> 0:13:40.809 is how many people came up to me as I 0:13:40.809 --> 0:13:44.809 walked around in the Commons at Moody Bible Institute when 0:13:44.809 --> 0:13:48.140 we were having getting ready for lunch or dinner, and 0:13:48.140 --> 0:13:51.140 I was in there with all these people and they 0:13:51.140 --> 0:13:55.969 would say, I'm a kitchen table partner. I came from Cleveland, 0:13:55.970 --> 0:14:00.080 I came from Florida, I came from Indianapolis, I came 0:14:00.080 --> 0:14:04.010 from Spokane. All these places where there are people who 0:14:04.040 --> 0:14:06.170 were listening all over the country to open line for 0:14:06.170 --> 0:14:09.050 our Bible study across America. And they not only listen, 0:14:09.050 --> 0:14:11.840 but they partner with us. They are part of the team. 0:14:11.840 --> 0:14:15.140 And I was so glad to meet all those wonderful people. 0:14:15.140 --> 0:14:17.929 And what they have done is they've made a commitment. 0:14:17.929 --> 0:14:22.280 They say, I'd like to see this program on every week, 0:14:22.280 --> 0:14:26.240 so I'm going to give every month. And if you do, 0:14:26.270 --> 0:14:28.940 if that's something you're interested in doing, something that if 0:14:28.940 --> 0:14:30.980 this program has meant something to you, if it's helped 0:14:30.980 --> 0:14:36.470 you in your walk with the Lord, then, uh, I, 0:14:36.500 --> 0:14:39.410 I think that becoming a kitchen table partner would be 0:14:39.410 --> 0:14:43.890 really greatly appreciated. The way to do that is to 0:14:43.920 --> 0:14:54.270 go to 87888888. Let me get that number right. 88864471228886447122. 0:14:54.300 --> 0:14:57.840 Or go to open line radio.org. You can become a 0:14:57.840 --> 0:14:59.580 kitchen table partner. One of the things that we'll do 0:14:59.580 --> 0:15:02.610 for you if you do that is every other week 0:15:02.640 --> 0:15:04.740 you'll get a Bible study moment in your email. You 0:15:04.740 --> 0:15:07.380 can click on it and listen to it. Eve and 0:15:07.380 --> 0:15:12.060 I are doing a little series right now about, uh, 0:15:12.060 --> 0:15:17.490 because of the summit about alleged anti-Semitism in the New Testament, 0:15:17.490 --> 0:15:23.220 showing how the New Testament is not anti-Semitic. Uh, so again, 0:15:23.250 --> 0:15:28.290 (888) 644-7122 or go to open line radio.org and you too 0:15:28.320 --> 0:15:30.990 can become a kitchen table partner. And for all of 0:15:30.990 --> 0:15:34.050 you who have, thank you so much. We're going to 0:15:34.050 --> 0:15:39.930 talk to Catherine in Naperville listening on Wmbi. Welcome to 0:15:39.960 --> 0:15:41.760 Open Line. Catherine. How can I help you? 0:15:42.750 --> 0:15:45.810 Hey, there. Thank you. Good morning. Thank you for taking 0:15:45.810 --> 0:15:49.890 my call. I had a question. I was listening to 0:15:49.920 --> 0:15:54.030 a lecture recently where the person speaking at the Bible 0:15:54.030 --> 0:16:00.660 study referred to pride as the greatest sin. And I 0:16:00.660 --> 0:16:05.220 am curious as to one of that truth. And two, 0:16:05.250 --> 0:16:09.150 if it is truth. Where? What verses support that, please? 0:16:09.180 --> 0:16:11.790 Well, I would like to know too. I don't I 0:16:11.790 --> 0:16:16.140 can't think of any verse that says that that pride 0:16:17.130 --> 0:16:22.230 is the, the greatest sin. You know, I'm just not 0:16:22.230 --> 0:16:25.050 aware of any verse that says that, you know, there 0:16:25.050 --> 0:16:28.560 are really serious sins. I think the greatest sin is 0:16:28.560 --> 0:16:35.220 unbelief and not trusting God. That's that seems to me, uh, 0:16:35.880 --> 0:16:38.710 or not even believing in God. You know what it 0:16:38.710 --> 0:16:43.240 says in, uh, uh, in Scripture? For the fool has 0:16:43.240 --> 0:16:48.820 said in his high, uh, heart that, uh, uh, that 0:16:48.820 --> 0:16:53.170 there is no God. Uh, Trisha is reminding me that, uh, pride, 0:16:53.200 --> 0:16:56.050 the five I wills in Isaiah 14 is what brought 0:16:56.050 --> 0:16:59.860 Satan down. Certainly, pride leads to rebellion. We put ourselves 0:16:59.860 --> 0:17:02.200 in the place of God. But, you know, I kind 0:17:02.230 --> 0:17:06.369 of think idolatry is a little, uh, you know, they're 0:17:06.369 --> 0:17:09.190 all serious sins. I'm not saying pride isn't a serious sin. 0:17:09.190 --> 0:17:11.890 I'm not sure I can link which one is worse. 0:17:11.890 --> 0:17:14.679 I don't know of a verse, you know, when you 0:17:14.710 --> 0:17:19.270 think of the really deadly sins in in the book 0:17:19.270 --> 0:17:23.800 of Proverbs? Uh, four of them have to do with speech, uh, 0:17:23.800 --> 0:17:27.310 slander and and things like that. So we have to 0:17:27.340 --> 0:17:30.609 control our speech. I think I would just say pride 0:17:30.609 --> 0:17:35.200 is a pretty serious sin, but, um, I'm not sure 0:17:35.200 --> 0:17:38.180 I would say it's the greatest sin. How's that? 0:17:38.390 --> 0:17:39.500 Can I, can I? 0:17:39.530 --> 0:17:41.390 It's one of the. Let me just say it's one 0:17:41.390 --> 0:17:45.110 of the big ones. That's what I think. So. Okay. 0:17:45.140 --> 0:17:48.139 Got it. So just can I follow up with that? 0:17:48.140 --> 0:17:53.330 In terms of ranking, sin is all sin created is 0:17:53.359 --> 0:17:57.410 also equal. Or is one sin greater than another? 0:17:57.650 --> 0:18:02.270 Oh, there there are worse sins. And, uh, and there 0:18:02.270 --> 0:18:06.380 are also greater virtues. Uh, think about it. They asked 0:18:06.380 --> 0:18:09.110 the Lord Jesus, what's the greatest commandment? He said, love 0:18:09.109 --> 0:18:11.570 the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and might, 0:18:11.600 --> 0:18:15.200 mind and your neighbor as yourself. These are the two 0:18:15.200 --> 0:18:20.510 greatest commandments. So there's if there's greater commandments, then there's certainly, uh, 0:18:20.630 --> 0:18:28.520 lesser commandments. Uh, the Lord Jesus mentioned in Matthew 23 that, uh, 0:18:28.520 --> 0:18:32.660 that they were tithing mint and cumin, but ignoring the 0:18:32.660 --> 0:18:36.830 weightier matters of the law so that there's weightier matters. 0:18:37.580 --> 0:18:43.580 It says in, uh. Uh, I'm trying to think, uh, 0:18:44.150 --> 0:18:50.000 that in terms of virtues, uh, these three things abide faith, hope, 0:18:50.000 --> 0:18:54.770 and love. But the greatest of these is love. So 0:18:55.130 --> 0:19:00.949 that's there. And then there's, uh, the verse, for example, 0:19:00.950 --> 0:19:09.409 in John 19 when, uh, pilot, pilot says, uh, the 0:19:09.410 --> 0:19:12.710 one the Lord Jesus says to Pilate, the one who 0:19:12.710 --> 0:19:16.430 delivered me up to you has the greater sin. So 0:19:16.430 --> 0:19:20.510 even though you know, the high priest had a serious sin, 0:19:20.510 --> 0:19:23.689 and Pilate had a terrible sin of of having to 0:19:23.720 --> 0:19:27.470 judge the Messiah. What was the greater sin? It was 0:19:27.470 --> 0:19:30.350 the greater sin of the high priest, who should have 0:19:30.350 --> 0:19:33.690 known better because of having had the scriptures. He should 0:19:33.720 --> 0:19:36.149 have been able to recognize what a serious thing that was. 0:19:36.150 --> 0:19:39.990 So there is a greater sin that way. So I 0:19:39.990 --> 0:19:44.970 think that the scriptures really do have, uh, uh, greater 0:19:44.970 --> 0:19:51.810 virtues and lesser virtues, and there's worse sins and lesser sins. Now, 0:19:51.810 --> 0:19:54.930 some people cite the verse in James where it says 0:19:54.930 --> 0:19:58.530 that if you offend in one place the law, uh, uh, 0:19:58.530 --> 0:20:01.650 that you've offended in them all. And I think that's, 0:20:01.650 --> 0:20:08.580 that's only saying that if if we offend, if we 0:20:08.609 --> 0:20:12.360 sin in one area, that's sufficient to separate us from God. 0:20:12.359 --> 0:20:16.080 It's not saying that all sins are the same. Uh, 0:20:16.080 --> 0:20:24.390 for example, uh uh, I'll just, uh, in terms of, uh, 0:20:24.390 --> 0:20:28.710 the Lord Jesus says it is a sin to, uh, 0:20:28.710 --> 0:20:33.220 look with lust at another person. Right, but that is 0:20:33.220 --> 0:20:38.920 certainly not as serious a sin as breaking one's marriage vows. Uh, so, 0:20:39.250 --> 0:20:41.950 you know, I just want to be really clear that 0:20:41.950 --> 0:20:44.440 there are sins that are serious and there's even sins 0:20:44.440 --> 0:20:50.320 that are more serious than that. So does that help, Catherine? 0:20:50.710 --> 0:20:52.720 Yeah. Thank you for clarifying, I appreciate it. 0:20:52.750 --> 0:20:56.980 But all sin, even just one the littlest sin, it's 0:20:56.980 --> 0:21:01.240 still separates us from God. And so that's why we 0:21:01.240 --> 0:21:06.040 need we need the Messiah's redemption. And not only that. Uh, 0:21:06.040 --> 0:21:10.060 but when we as followers of Jesus sin, we still 0:21:10.060 --> 0:21:13.090 need to confess that and agree with him and have 0:21:13.090 --> 0:21:17.649 our fellowship restored, not our salvation. Obviously, we're all our 0:21:17.650 --> 0:21:22.000 sins are forgiven. Past, present, future. No condemnation for those 0:21:22.000 --> 0:21:24.580 who are in Messiah. But our fellowship, according to first 0:21:24.580 --> 0:21:29.680 John one nine, is restored when we confess sin. Okay, Catherine. 0:21:30.160 --> 0:21:31.810 Perfect. Thank you so much. 0:21:31.840 --> 0:21:35.950 Yeah, thanks for your call. Really appreciate it. Uh, we're 0:21:35.950 --> 0:21:40.810 going to speak with George in Cleveland, Ohio, listening on Wtxf, 0:21:40.810 --> 0:21:44.020 one of my favorite stations. Hey, George, how can I 0:21:44.050 --> 0:21:44.740 help you? 0:21:46.450 --> 0:21:51.820 Uh, doctor, I was wondering about the Romans 1220 coals 0:21:51.820 --> 0:21:55.840 of fire. I can't find any commentary that gives it 0:21:55.869 --> 0:21:57.460 a clear answer. 0:21:59.350 --> 0:22:02.500 Really? Have you looked at the Moody Bible commentary? 0:22:03.609 --> 0:22:05.560 I'm sorry, I don't have that copy. 0:22:06.550 --> 0:22:09.730 Oh, well, let me just tell you. The Romans commentary 0:22:09.730 --> 0:22:13.929 in the Moody Bible commentary is really strong. George. It's 0:22:13.930 --> 0:22:19.480 a great commentary written by Michael Van Landingham, my co-editor 0:22:19.480 --> 0:22:22.840 on that work. And I think that's a book that 0:22:22.840 --> 0:22:24.669 you need. So you hang on. I'm going to have 0:22:24.700 --> 0:22:28.300 Tricia get your name and address and send you a 0:22:28.300 --> 0:22:31.880 copy of the Moody Bible Commentary. And if you're listening 0:22:31.880 --> 0:22:34.760 and like George, look at a verse like Romans 1220 0:22:34.790 --> 0:22:37.940 and think, I'd like to know what that means. Well, 0:22:37.940 --> 0:22:41.239 the Moody Bible Commentary, written by 30 faculty members of 0:22:41.240 --> 0:22:45.290 Moody Bible Institute, and I had the great privilege of 0:22:45.290 --> 0:22:50.090 editing it with Mike Van Laningham. We were co-editors together. Uh, 0:22:51.109 --> 0:22:56.990 it was, uh, it was just a great, great experience 0:22:56.990 --> 0:23:00.110 in my life. Although it took forever, six years or 0:23:00.109 --> 0:23:02.600 a little bit more. But I'm really grateful we did it. 0:23:02.630 --> 0:23:06.350 Learned a ton. And, uh, I just think that if 0:23:06.380 --> 0:23:09.979 you'd like one, just check out, uh, your favorite online 0:23:09.980 --> 0:23:12.800 bookseller or go to your local Christian bookstore. I actually 0:23:12.800 --> 0:23:14.990 saw one at a at a secular bookstore just this 0:23:14.990 --> 0:23:17.870 week when I was doing some shopping. So I saw 0:23:17.869 --> 0:23:20.780 it posted there, uh, on the shelf. So that was 0:23:20.780 --> 0:23:23.450 pretty cool. Uh, okay. Let me answer your question about 0:23:23.450 --> 0:23:30.280 Romans 1220. Uh, it says friends, do not avenge yourselves. Instead, 0:23:30.280 --> 0:23:34.300 leave room for his wrath. For it is written, vengeance 0:23:34.300 --> 0:23:37.870 belongs to me. I will repay, says the Lord. But 0:23:37.869 --> 0:23:41.530 if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, 0:23:41.560 --> 0:23:44.710 give him something to drink, for in so doing you 0:23:44.710 --> 0:23:49.240 will be heaping fiery coals on his head. Now some 0:23:49.240 --> 0:23:51.699 people want to say that you're the fiery coals has 0:23:51.700 --> 0:23:54.609 something to do with kindness of God. I don't think so. 0:23:54.640 --> 0:23:57.159 I think the context there is saying is that we 0:23:57.160 --> 0:24:02.110 should not try to avenge ourselves against people who hurt us. 0:24:02.109 --> 0:24:06.100 Personal vengeance is not appropriate for a follower of Jesus. 0:24:06.100 --> 0:24:12.580 And the interesting thing about that is that he quotes 0:24:12.580 --> 0:24:18.970 the Old Testament about that. Uh, so for example, Proverbs 0:24:19.000 --> 0:24:25.480 2521 and 22, uh, are the the actual if your 0:24:25.480 --> 0:24:28.679 enemy is hungry, that's what he's quoting there. And the 0:24:28.680 --> 0:24:31.590 reason I want to point that out is that people 0:24:31.619 --> 0:24:35.580 often think that the Old Testament is full of vengeance, 0:24:35.580 --> 0:24:38.369 and the New Testament isn't. But that's a verse from 0:24:38.369 --> 0:24:40.530 the Old Testament that Paul is quoting and teaching the 0:24:40.560 --> 0:24:45.510 same principle. We shouldn't be involved in personal vengeance. So 0:24:45.510 --> 0:24:48.030 what do we do when there's someone that's been unkind? 0:24:48.060 --> 0:24:50.790 Someone that's an enemy. Someone that's hurt us. What we 0:24:50.790 --> 0:24:53.880 do is we provide every kindness we can for them. 0:24:53.880 --> 0:24:56.640 That's what we're supposed to do. And in so doing, 0:24:56.640 --> 0:24:59.220 we're heaping fiery coals on his head. What that means 0:24:59.250 --> 0:25:02.910 is we're leaving the vengeance to God and not taking 0:25:02.910 --> 0:25:07.740 it ourselves. We're not. We're not the ones, uh, bringing 0:25:07.770 --> 0:25:11.850 fiery coals on that person's head. Rather, we're trusting God 0:25:11.850 --> 0:25:15.240 to bring whatever judgment and justice needs to be brought. Now, 0:25:15.240 --> 0:25:17.430 the truth of it is, if we're kind, if we 0:25:17.430 --> 0:25:24.419 are not, uh, vengeful, sometimes what that does, it brings 0:25:24.420 --> 0:25:30.639 repentance on the part of that enemy. And when that happens, 0:25:30.640 --> 0:25:34.480 there is no fiery call from the Lord. It's just reconciliation. 0:25:34.480 --> 0:25:39.700 And that's really a lovely experience. But that's leaving vengeance 0:25:39.700 --> 0:25:41.740 in the hands of God. We're going to come back 0:25:41.740 --> 0:25:44.710 in just a moment with Tricia McMillan. She's got the 0:25:44.710 --> 0:25:47.949 mailbag ready for us, and we'll be talking about the 0:25:47.950 --> 0:25:50.500 questions you've sent in in just a moment. This is 0:25:50.500 --> 0:26:08.560 Michael Ray Dolnick, and this is Open Line. And we're back. 0:26:08.560 --> 0:26:13.900 I am so glad to see Tricia dragging in the mailbag, 0:26:13.900 --> 0:26:18.040 because you have sent a lot of questions in, and 0:26:18.040 --> 0:26:19.960 I'm always happy to answer them. The way to do 0:26:19.960 --> 0:26:23.139 that is go to our website, openline. radio.org. That's the 0:26:23.140 --> 0:26:25.750 place to check out everything from Open Line, but there's 0:26:25.750 --> 0:26:28.510 a link there that says Ask Michael a question. That's 0:26:28.510 --> 0:26:31.270 the best place to put your question. If you want 0:26:31.300 --> 0:26:34.030 to send it in, just click on that link, put 0:26:34.030 --> 0:26:36.670 your fill out the form, put in your question, and 0:26:36.670 --> 0:26:43.300 Trish will put it in the mailbag. So Tricia busy 0:26:43.330 --> 0:26:45.730 week has it been. 0:26:46.060 --> 0:26:48.100 It has been. Yes. Yeah. 0:26:48.820 --> 0:26:53.890 Yeah I we went we were on uh the favorite 0:26:53.890 --> 0:26:58.300 show this week Chris Fabry live. And uh, Mike V 0:26:58.330 --> 0:27:01.750 kind of couldn't come at the last second. He had 0:27:01.750 --> 0:27:03.790 something that popped up, not a health issue, but he 0:27:03.790 --> 0:27:08.260 couldn't be there. So I brought my favorite Bible answerer. Uh, Eva. 0:27:08.260 --> 0:27:09.580 And it was fun to see you. 0:27:09.730 --> 0:27:12.609 It was fun to see you two and Eva. Of course. Yeah. 0:27:12.640 --> 0:27:15.189 I saw how happy you were to see Eva. And 0:27:15.400 --> 0:27:17.740 I'm not jealous. Everyone does that when they see her. 0:27:17.770 --> 0:27:18.340 But I see. 0:27:18.730 --> 0:27:22.360 I see you every week. I don't see her every week. 0:27:22.400 --> 0:27:25.820 That's right. That was pretty cool. So anyway, a lot 0:27:25.850 --> 0:27:28.070 of people have sent in questions. What what can we do? 0:27:28.100 --> 0:27:31.399 All right. Well, our first question is from David in Florida, 0:27:31.430 --> 0:27:35.240 listens on the Moody Radio app. I understand that all people, 0:27:35.240 --> 0:27:38.210 including those in the Old Testament, are saved by grace 0:27:38.210 --> 0:27:43.760 through faith. Does that mean that Old Testament people had 0:27:43.760 --> 0:27:46.909 to believe in the future Messiah to be saved, or 0:27:46.910 --> 0:27:49.010 was it just faith in God the Father? 0:27:50.570 --> 0:27:54.050 Well, I think that the best thing to say is 0:27:54.080 --> 0:27:56.360 that all people are saved by grace through faith in 0:27:56.359 --> 0:28:00.410 the revealed will of God. Okay. And so the revealed 0:28:00.410 --> 0:28:03.679 will of God. What did we have? In the Old Testament? 0:28:03.710 --> 0:28:07.970 God called upon people to offer sacrifices and believe that 0:28:07.970 --> 0:28:14.990 those sacrifices would bring reconciliation with God. Forgiveness of sins. 0:28:15.290 --> 0:28:18.170 Now we know that they didn't. They just were sort 0:28:18.170 --> 0:28:22.080 of placeholders pointing forward to the Messiah. but that's something. 0:28:22.109 --> 0:28:24.900 And one of the things we see in the progressive 0:28:24.900 --> 0:28:30.660 revelation of Scripture, it begins really with the Pentateuch, which 0:28:30.690 --> 0:28:34.619 Moses wrote in 1400 BC. But the earliest books that 0:28:34.619 --> 0:28:37.050 in Jobe Jobe may have been written a little bit 0:28:37.050 --> 0:28:41.010 earlier than the Pentateuch or the Torah or the Five 0:28:41.040 --> 0:28:46.380 Books of Moses, but they have references to the future Messiah. 0:28:46.380 --> 0:28:48.930 So it seems to me, I don't know what other 0:28:48.930 --> 0:28:52.830 revelation apart from Scripture was given for the revealed will 0:28:52.860 --> 0:28:55.350 of God. You know, there's there is revelation given to 0:28:55.380 --> 0:28:59.250 people like Abraham and people like Adam and Eve, you know, 0:28:59.490 --> 0:29:02.790 but we don't know what that revelation was. We only 0:29:02.790 --> 0:29:07.350 have the revelation that was in Scripture. But in Scripture 0:29:07.350 --> 0:29:09.840 we see that they all these books point forward to 0:29:09.870 --> 0:29:12.480 the Messiah. So it seems to me that there was 0:29:12.480 --> 0:29:19.440 an expectation that that people would offer the sacrifices and 0:29:19.440 --> 0:29:22.440 believe in the coming Messiah. And I think that's that's 0:29:22.440 --> 0:29:26.670 what was expected that God intended people to believe in 0:29:26.670 --> 0:29:27.780 order to be saved. 0:29:27.810 --> 0:29:32.070 Okay. All right. Thank you for that question, David. Um, 0:29:32.100 --> 0:29:36.060 James emailed us and said I was recently having a 0:29:36.060 --> 0:29:40.740 discussion with a friend about the problem or issue of 0:29:40.740 --> 0:29:43.950 a person who thinks he thinks that he is saved 0:29:43.950 --> 0:29:48.360 but is not. New believers are trained to learn assurance 0:29:48.360 --> 0:29:52.200 scriptures such as first John 513 which says, I have 0:29:52.200 --> 0:29:54.180 written these things to you who believe in the name 0:29:54.180 --> 0:29:55.920 of the Son of God, so that you may know 0:29:55.920 --> 0:30:00.210 that you have eternal life. What if you have been 0:30:00.210 --> 0:30:04.920 taught that verse, but you have a but it makes 0:30:04.920 --> 0:30:09.030 you have a false confidence because you haven't actually trusted 0:30:09.030 --> 0:30:12.120 and put your faith in following Jesus? So how do 0:30:12.120 --> 0:30:15.510 you truly know that you are saved? 0:30:16.830 --> 0:30:21.850 Uh, well, I think you'd have to, uh, really examine 0:30:21.850 --> 0:30:28.780 your faith. Uh, and so it says in Second Corinthians 0:30:28.780 --> 0:30:32.980 13 five, Paul warns the Corinthians. Now, the Corinthians were 0:30:33.010 --> 0:30:38.140 kind of, uh, um, how do I put it? Uh, 0:30:38.140 --> 0:30:43.690 difficult people, they had some struggles with obedience. And in 0:30:43.690 --> 0:30:47.530 Second Corinthians 13 five, Paul says to them, examine yourselves 0:30:47.530 --> 0:30:49.959 to see if you're in the faith. He's saying, examine 0:30:49.960 --> 0:30:52.600 your very faith. Just see if it's genuine. So what 0:30:52.600 --> 0:30:57.340 makes genuine faith? Uh, because that's what what first, John 0:30:57.370 --> 0:31:01.240 513 is about these things I've written to you who believe, 0:31:01.270 --> 0:31:05.650 who have faith, uh, to see, uh, to know that 0:31:05.650 --> 0:31:09.220 you are forgiven. These things I've written to you, uh, 0:31:09.400 --> 0:31:14.800 who have faith. That's what first John 513 is about, uh, 0:31:14.800 --> 0:31:19.010 who have believed. Let me read the verse. Exactly. And 0:31:19.010 --> 0:31:21.080 I think that is a great verse to show people. 0:31:21.080 --> 0:31:23.720 But one of the things that I often do is 0:31:23.720 --> 0:31:26.660 try and help people understand what genuine faith is. I've 0:31:26.660 --> 0:31:28.430 written these things to you who believe in the name 0:31:28.430 --> 0:31:31.040 of the Son of God, so that you may know 0:31:31.040 --> 0:31:35.180 that you have eternal life. Those of you who believe, 0:31:35.300 --> 0:31:38.390 what does it mean to believe? Well, I've often thought 0:31:38.390 --> 0:31:42.080 that a lot of us take a superficial view of 0:31:42.080 --> 0:31:44.360 what it means to believe in Scripture. We have to 0:31:44.390 --> 0:31:48.800 believe with our whole being, with our whole person, mind, heart, will. 0:31:48.800 --> 0:31:50.900 So the mind is we have to know certain facts. 0:31:50.900 --> 0:31:52.880 We have to know that Jesus is the Messiah, the 0:31:52.880 --> 0:31:54.860 Son of God, that he died for our sins, that 0:31:54.860 --> 0:31:59.540 he rose again. Uh, we have to believe that intellectually 0:31:59.540 --> 0:32:04.040 know it and assent to those facts. Then there has 0:32:04.040 --> 0:32:10.850 to be heart. There has to be a conviction of, uh, 0:32:11.060 --> 0:32:13.550 of the truth of it, that this is not just 0:32:13.550 --> 0:32:16.730 some intellectual facts that I believe from the past. But 0:32:16.730 --> 0:32:20.510 this is true for me. That's heart. And then there's 0:32:20.510 --> 0:32:24.920 will a dependence on it. I am going to choose 0:32:24.920 --> 0:32:28.910 right now to depend on these facts that I am 0:32:28.910 --> 0:32:34.550 convinced are true. So mind heart will, uh, the the 0:32:34.550 --> 0:32:38.480 illustration that I like to use about that is the 0:32:38.480 --> 0:32:43.370 lifeboats on the Titanic. Okay. There were some people on 0:32:43.370 --> 0:32:47.719 the Titanic who didn't even know there were lifeboats. So 0:32:47.720 --> 0:32:50.870 when that when it hit that iceberg, they just stayed 0:32:50.870 --> 0:32:54.650 in their cabins and and perished. Uh, they didn't even 0:32:54.650 --> 0:32:57.440 know there were lifeboats. Then there were other people who 0:32:57.440 --> 0:33:01.190 had intellect. They knew the facts. They knew there were lifeboats. 0:33:01.190 --> 0:33:04.370 But they looked out at the dark North Atlantic and said, 0:33:04.370 --> 0:33:07.400 these little bitty boats are not going to save me. Um, 0:33:07.700 --> 0:33:10.550 and and they didn't have a conviction. They knew about 0:33:10.550 --> 0:33:12.470 the fact of them. They just didn't have any conviction 0:33:12.470 --> 0:33:15.150 of the truth that they were lifeboats. Didn't think they 0:33:15.150 --> 0:33:17.730 could save them, so they didn't get in the boat. 0:33:17.730 --> 0:33:22.560 So there's, uh, mind. They had the intellect, but they 0:33:22.560 --> 0:33:27.090 didn't have the heart. They didn't weren't convinced of it. 0:33:27.090 --> 0:33:30.870 And then there were some people who knew about it, 0:33:30.870 --> 0:33:35.460 and they knew those lifeboats could save them. But, for example, 0:33:35.460 --> 0:33:37.470 women and children first, some women might have looked at 0:33:37.500 --> 0:33:40.890 that and said, I don't want to leave my husband 0:33:40.920 --> 0:33:43.530 here on this boat to perish. I don't want to 0:33:43.530 --> 0:33:47.520 live with him without him. And so though they knew 0:33:47.520 --> 0:33:50.610 about the lifeboats, though, they were convinced those lifeboats could 0:33:50.640 --> 0:33:54.930 save them, they chose, by an act of the will 0:33:54.930 --> 0:33:59.670 not to get in the lifeboat, um, to depend on it. And. 0:33:59.850 --> 0:34:02.100 But then there were some people who knew about him, 0:34:02.100 --> 0:34:05.040 were convinced they would save him and chose to get 0:34:05.040 --> 0:34:07.800 in the lifeboat, and those were the ones that were saved. 0:34:07.800 --> 0:34:10.620 And that's what real faith is. So when I tell 0:34:10.650 --> 0:34:13.149 someone to examine themselves to see if they're in the faith. 0:34:13.150 --> 0:34:15.490 I ask them, do you know the facts that we're 0:34:15.520 --> 0:34:20.410 to believe? Are you convinced they're true? And have you 0:34:20.410 --> 0:34:23.950 put your trust in them? Are you committed to. Those. 0:34:23.950 --> 0:34:26.800 Because if you do, it will change your life. 0:34:28.060 --> 0:34:32.440 Where where is the role or is there a role 0:34:32.440 --> 0:34:37.930 for feelings in this? Like I often, you know, there's 0:34:37.960 --> 0:34:41.980 there's heightened emotions when when you've had that conviction of 0:34:41.980 --> 0:34:47.410 sin or making that choice because then you feel free. Um, 0:34:47.530 --> 0:34:54.040 like you have this, I don't know, there's this release, um, emotionally, 0:34:54.070 --> 0:34:58.630 where where does that fit into this or does it. 0:34:58.660 --> 0:35:01.480 Well, I think it does. There is a that's what 0:35:01.480 --> 0:35:05.050 I think the heart is the conviction of its truth. 0:35:05.050 --> 0:35:08.200 But there are some people that have that, and they 0:35:08.200 --> 0:35:11.800 think they've put their trust in Jesus. But when the 0:35:11.800 --> 0:35:16.450 real test that shows whether they have is when persecution comes, 0:35:16.450 --> 0:35:19.719 when difficulties come and they say, oh, this is the 0:35:19.719 --> 0:35:23.710 one that I expected. And they, they jumped ship. Uh, 0:35:25.510 --> 0:35:29.980 that's kind of a bad metaphor. After what? After the. 0:35:29.980 --> 0:35:30.550 Titanic. 0:35:30.700 --> 0:35:31.840 Example. Yeah. Right. 0:35:31.870 --> 0:35:36.220 But so they get into the boat, but then jump out. No, 0:35:36.219 --> 0:35:38.230 that wouldn't quite work. No, but. 0:35:38.650 --> 0:35:38.890 That's not. 0:35:38.890 --> 0:35:41.169 What the analogy breaks down. Right. Yeah. 0:35:41.440 --> 0:35:45.700 But what I mean by that is, like it says in, uh, 0:35:46.450 --> 0:35:51.250 in Matthew 13 where you have the parable of the sower. Uh, 0:35:51.250 --> 0:35:54.130 the parable. Parable. It's actually a parable of the soils, 0:35:54.130 --> 0:36:00.160 the different kinds of soils. Mhm. And, uh, I'm having 0:36:00.160 --> 0:36:02.770 trouble with my pages here. Here we go. You hear 0:36:02.770 --> 0:36:03.640 those pages turning? 0:36:03.730 --> 0:36:05.380 Yes. It's a good sound. 0:36:05.410 --> 0:36:10.370 Yeah, I like that sound. Uh, then it says when 0:36:10.400 --> 0:36:13.640 he when he gives the explanation of the parable of 0:36:13.640 --> 0:36:20.390 the sower, he says, uh uh, this is the one 0:36:20.390 --> 0:36:23.029 who hears and the one who's sown along the path 0:36:23.030 --> 0:36:25.280 and the one sown on rocky ground. This is one 0:36:25.280 --> 0:36:29.030 who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. 0:36:29.060 --> 0:36:37.009 That's emotion. Yet, uh, he has no root in himself, 0:36:37.010 --> 0:36:40.970 but is short lived when pressure or persecution comes because 0:36:40.969 --> 0:36:45.920 of the word. Immediately he stumbles. I think that's a 0:36:45.920 --> 0:36:50.359 person who has a mind and heart. But no, Will 0:36:50.390 --> 0:36:55.280 hasn't really put there. They may have the emotion, but 0:36:55.280 --> 0:36:59.300 they haven't put their confidence in the Lord no matter what. 0:36:59.330 --> 0:37:04.310 I think that's the the trust. It's getting in that lifeboat. 0:37:05.000 --> 0:37:08.240 No matter how you feel. Once you're in the lifeboat, 0:37:08.239 --> 0:37:12.480 I'm in here. That's the person that really is saved. Okay, 0:37:12.510 --> 0:37:16.650 so I think there's a place of emotion. I remember 0:37:16.650 --> 0:37:20.400 a girl once said she was. We saw this person 0:37:20.400 --> 0:37:23.880 who gave his testimony about abandoning the faith at a 0:37:23.880 --> 0:37:27.180 rally for people trying to convince them not to believe. 0:37:27.750 --> 0:37:30.750 Believe it or not. Okay. Yeah. It was it was 0:37:30.750 --> 0:37:30.960 like the. 0:37:30.960 --> 0:37:32.489 Reverse of what you would. 0:37:32.520 --> 0:37:33.420 An evangelistic. 0:37:33.420 --> 0:37:33.750 Rally. 0:37:33.780 --> 0:37:38.040 Okay. It was a it was at a Jewish community center, 0:37:38.460 --> 0:37:40.740 and they were trying to convince Jewish kids not to. 0:37:40.860 --> 0:37:44.880 Jewish young people not to believe in Jesus. And they 0:37:44.880 --> 0:37:47.489 had the testimony of this guy who abandoned the faith 0:37:47.489 --> 0:37:51.270 after believing. And when he told the story of of 0:37:51.270 --> 0:37:53.820 how he came to faith, he didn't have the content. 0:37:53.820 --> 0:37:58.230 Really accurate. But he there was a big emotional feeling 0:37:58.230 --> 0:38:02.100 at a concert and he ran forward okay with the music, 0:38:02.100 --> 0:38:07.049 but he really didn't really count and understand that this 0:38:07.050 --> 0:38:11.220 is for life. You know, this is this is for it. 0:38:11.219 --> 0:38:16.260 And she said, uh, this this young woman who was 0:38:16.290 --> 0:38:18.330 there listening to this, she looked at me and she says, 0:38:18.330 --> 0:38:21.210 that guy didn't know the Lord. I said, no, I 0:38:21.210 --> 0:38:23.400 don't think so. She said it was a fire drill. 0:38:23.400 --> 0:38:29.190 And he ran forward. That's. And I thought, yeah, she 0:38:29.190 --> 0:38:31.650 got it. He didn't understand what he was doing when 0:38:31.650 --> 0:38:39.330 when he ran forward. And mind, heart and determination will decision. Volition. 0:38:39.480 --> 0:38:43.080 That's who I'm following. We're going to take a break 0:38:43.080 --> 0:38:46.770 right now. And, uh, when we come back, we'll take 0:38:46.770 --> 0:38:51.150 more of your calls. (877) 548-3675. But I thank you, Tricia, 0:38:51.150 --> 0:38:55.170 for putting the mailbag together. Sure thing. I you can 0:38:55.200 --> 0:38:59.580 send your questions by going to michael-ray, uh, open Line 0:38:59.580 --> 0:39:03.150 radio.org and ask Michael a question, and you can put 0:39:03.150 --> 0:39:05.310 your question in there. Trish will put it in the bag. 0:39:05.340 --> 0:39:08.320 We'll be right back. Don't go away with more questions 0:39:08.320 --> 0:39:14.530 coming up straight ahead. Some claim Paul is the key 0:39:14.530 --> 0:39:17.950 person who took the message of the Jewish Messiah. Jesus 0:39:17.980 --> 0:39:21.759 made it into something Gentile. But Paul is also the 0:39:21.760 --> 0:39:26.140 one who wrote, brethren, my heart's desire for Israel is 0:39:26.140 --> 0:39:30.969 for their salvation. Romans ten one chosen people ministries. One 0:39:30.969 --> 0:39:34.719 of our underwriters wants us all to learn what drove 0:39:34.719 --> 0:39:38.020 Paul's passion for his own people. They're offering the book 0:39:38.050 --> 0:39:41.110 The Heart of the Apostle by Rich Freeman, free to 0:39:41.140 --> 0:39:44.380 all open line listeners. To get this exposition of Romans 0:39:44.410 --> 0:39:48.219 nine through 11, just go to our website, openline radio.org. 0:39:48.219 --> 0:39:50.650 Scroll down to the link that says A free gift 0:39:50.650 --> 0:39:53.830 from Chosen People Ministries. Click on that and you'll be 0:39:53.830 --> 0:39:55.450 taken to a page where you can sign up for 0:39:55.450 --> 0:39:59.410 your very own free copy of The Heart of the Apostle. 0:40:08.410 --> 0:40:11.800 Welcome back. I'm Michael Ray Dolnick. This is open line 0:40:11.800 --> 0:40:14.259 on Moody Radio. We're going to go right back to 0:40:14.290 --> 0:40:17.350 the phones for our Bible study. This is Craig from 0:40:17.350 --> 0:40:20.589 Minnesota listening on Ktgg. Welcome to Open Line. Craig. How 0:40:20.590 --> 0:40:21.489 can I help you? 0:40:22.330 --> 0:40:26.170 Thank you. I'm in my 80s and I can remember 0:40:26.170 --> 0:40:31.180 pastors with big charts for End Times. I recall we 0:40:31.180 --> 0:40:34.720 were taught that the Armageddon was the final war. Well, 0:40:34.719 --> 0:40:37.719 then I found out about the war after the millennium. 0:40:37.780 --> 0:40:41.560 Then you go to Ezekiel 38, and it appears that 0:40:41.560 --> 0:40:44.560 there is a future war that takes seven years to 0:40:44.560 --> 0:40:48.009 recover from. Where does that fit in? 0:40:48.400 --> 0:40:52.030 It's called the war of Gog and Magog. And it's 0:40:52.030 --> 0:40:55.330 interesting because the one in revelation, in revelation 20 is 0:40:55.330 --> 0:40:58.089 also called the War of Gog and Magog, but that 0:40:58.090 --> 0:41:01.540 takes place after the messianic kingdom, after the thousand year 0:41:01.540 --> 0:41:05.450 reign of Jesus. And so I want you to know 0:41:05.450 --> 0:41:10.130 some a bunch of respected Bible teachers take different views 0:41:10.130 --> 0:41:15.740 of when the Ezekiel 38 war takes place. Uh, for example, 0:41:15.739 --> 0:41:18.799 the professor that I was an assistant for at Dallas 0:41:18.800 --> 0:41:23.660 Seminary thought that the Ezekiel 38 war took place after 0:41:23.660 --> 0:41:26.750 the Millennial Kingdom, that it was the same as the 0:41:26.750 --> 0:41:30.529 one in the book of revelation. The problem with that 0:41:30.530 --> 0:41:34.250 is just the same that you could think of is that, uh, 0:41:34.430 --> 0:41:39.530 then the the recovery from it would go on into 0:41:39.530 --> 0:41:44.960 the new creation. So that's that's even. Yeah, that's kind 0:41:44.989 --> 0:41:48.860 of problematic. And then, uh, a friend of mine, uh, 0:41:49.040 --> 0:41:54.739 who's a really well respected prophetic teacher in his book 0:41:54.770 --> 0:41:58.400 called The Footsteps of the Messiah, Arnold Fruchtenbaum has written 0:41:58.400 --> 0:42:05.009 that he believes it's a Pre-tribulational event because of the 0:42:05.010 --> 0:42:08.339 seven years that it needs time to recover. So he 0:42:08.370 --> 0:42:13.500 said it's going to happen some time before the rapture. Uh, 0:42:13.770 --> 0:42:20.880 and then, uh, doctor Walvoord Charles Dyer, people I have 0:42:20.910 --> 0:42:24.990 tremendous regard and respect for. They say it takes place 0:42:24.989 --> 0:42:28.830 sometime just before the middle of the tribulation, and that 0:42:28.830 --> 0:42:32.969 the recovery of the burning of the the weapons and 0:42:32.969 --> 0:42:37.470 things like that will take place into the millennium that 0:42:37.469 --> 0:42:39.810 that just will go on for a couple of years 0:42:39.810 --> 0:42:44.160 into the millennium. But they put it somewhere in the middle. Uh, 0:42:44.160 --> 0:42:47.970 and then, of course, Doctor Charles Feinberg, who was a 0:42:47.969 --> 0:42:51.180 great prophetic scholar, a great expert on the book of Ezekiel, 0:42:51.180 --> 0:42:55.530 wrote a commentary for Moody Publishers on Ezekiel many years ago. Uh, 0:42:55.530 --> 0:42:59.250 he said that it was that war in Ezekiel 38 0:42:59.250 --> 0:43:06.630 was comparable to the war. The the campaign of Armageddon. Uh, 0:43:06.630 --> 0:43:09.149 so which is it? You know, I used to joke 0:43:09.150 --> 0:43:12.480 around that some thinking people think this and some thinking 0:43:12.480 --> 0:43:16.770 people think that. And me, I'm for the thinking people, but, uh, 0:43:17.820 --> 0:43:22.080 I'm not. I wouldn't, uh, I'm not going to make 0:43:22.080 --> 0:43:25.410 a chart of this. I'm not going to, uh, in 0:43:25.410 --> 0:43:28.980 a sense, uh, go to the mat for this one. 0:43:29.400 --> 0:43:33.600 But I kind of agree with Charlie. That's where I 0:43:33.600 --> 0:43:36.839 think I would land with Charlie Dyer, who is our 0:43:36.840 --> 0:43:40.350 host now of the land of the book. You probably 0:43:40.380 --> 0:43:43.709 have listened to that, Craig, but, uh, yeah, I think 0:43:43.739 --> 0:43:46.260 it's somewhere in the middle, just before the middle of 0:43:46.260 --> 0:43:52.260 the tribulation. And it's that defeat of those enemies. There's 0:43:52.260 --> 0:43:56.819 a number of reasons. One, Israel's, uh, living securely when 0:43:56.820 --> 0:43:59.190 this event takes place. And that makes sense to me 0:43:59.200 --> 0:44:03.790 that the future false messiah, the Prince who is to come, 0:44:03.790 --> 0:44:07.660 the Antichrist, is going to make a treaty with Israel 0:44:08.680 --> 0:44:11.890 and it will bring peace. And so that's why I 0:44:11.890 --> 0:44:14.200 think Israel needs to be at peace when this happens. 0:44:14.200 --> 0:44:19.120 And then the invasion happens. And that's what enables the 0:44:19.120 --> 0:44:23.200 future false Messiah with with God intervening on Israel's behalf 0:44:23.200 --> 0:44:26.319 to break his covenant with Israel, his covenant of peace, 0:44:26.320 --> 0:44:29.740 that he has made his security covenant. And so that's 0:44:29.739 --> 0:44:32.379 why I would put it somewhere just before the middle 0:44:32.380 --> 0:44:35.710 of the tribulation. Okay. 0:44:36.489 --> 0:44:39.160 Right. But it is distinct from Armageddon. 0:44:39.430 --> 0:44:43.120 I think so, but Doctor Feinberg didn't. But I think so, 0:44:43.150 --> 0:44:45.939 and I'm a little embarrassed to ever disagree with Charles Feinberg, 0:44:45.940 --> 0:44:47.560 but I, I do. 0:44:48.370 --> 0:44:51.970 I think. Well, the interesting thing with revelation, God tells 0:44:51.969 --> 0:44:54.430 us that there are things that we will not know. 0:44:54.730 --> 0:44:55.090 Yeah. 0:44:55.690 --> 0:44:59.060 Listen, I, I the more I answer questions on the radio, 0:44:59.090 --> 0:45:01.370 the more things I don't know become clear to me. 0:45:01.400 --> 0:45:05.270 So yeah, that is not clear that I know him, 0:45:05.270 --> 0:45:08.870 but clear that I don't know them. You know, and 0:45:08.870 --> 0:45:11.720 particularly with end time prophecy, I think we have the 0:45:11.719 --> 0:45:15.980 broad outline of it. But just like. 0:45:16.010 --> 0:45:17.239 I think that's correct. 0:45:17.510 --> 0:45:22.040 Yeah, we have the broad outline, but I wouldn't, uh, 0:45:23.210 --> 0:45:28.880 I wouldn't, uh, be certain that that I know every 0:45:28.880 --> 0:45:30.440 detail or that I know how it will look. It 0:45:30.440 --> 0:45:35.120 reminds me of when Elisha made that prophecy in Second 0:45:35.120 --> 0:45:38.450 Kings 7 or 8 and said, uh, that the, the, 0:45:38.450 --> 0:45:41.540 the famine will be lifted. But he told the king, steward, 0:45:41.540 --> 0:45:46.220 you won't, uh, you won't benefit from it. You'll see it, 0:45:46.219 --> 0:45:50.720 but won't benefit from it. And then the prophecy is fulfilled, literally. 0:45:50.719 --> 0:45:54.350 But the king's steward would have never guessed that. It 0:45:54.350 --> 0:45:59.330 would mean that the Aramean army would flee, and the 0:45:59.360 --> 0:46:02.660 and the, uh, those with skin disease would find the 0:46:02.660 --> 0:46:05.690 food and bring it to the city of Samaria, that 0:46:05.989 --> 0:46:09.770 everyone would have thought something different. But it was fulfilled literally. 0:46:09.770 --> 0:46:11.960 And I think that's how end time events will be. 0:46:11.989 --> 0:46:15.830 They'll be fulfilled literally. But we're going to be surprised 0:46:15.830 --> 0:46:18.169 if we were around to see how it is. But 0:46:18.170 --> 0:46:21.140 the broad outline, I think it's true. Anyway, that's the 0:46:21.140 --> 0:46:23.450 first hour, everyone. The second hour of open lines coming 0:46:23.450 --> 0:46:26.630 up on most of these stations. Check out our web page, 0:46:26.660 --> 0:46:28.940 Open Line radio.org. It's got a link there if you 0:46:28.940 --> 0:46:30.950 want to listen, if your station doesn't carry it, or 0:46:30.950 --> 0:46:34.610 you can listen to past programs or other kinds of 0:46:34.610 --> 0:46:37.250 links that will you'll find helpful there, like our current 0:46:37.250 --> 0:46:39.980 resource and how to become a kitchen table partner. The 0:46:39.980 --> 0:46:43.250 Bible study across America will continue in the second hour, 0:46:43.250 --> 0:46:46.130 so stay with us. Open line with Doctor Michael Ray 0:46:46.130 --> 0:46:49.190 Dolnick is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of 0:46:49.219 --> 0:46:52.340 Moody Bible Institute. We'll be right back.